Environmentalist demands end to killings in Benue, implores Buhari, international community to step in

The Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), has condemned in strong terms the endless killings of Nigerians and destruction of houses in Benue state by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, while speaking to journalists in Warri, Delta State, at the weekend, described the unabated killings of innocent Nigerians in Benue State as barbarous, inexcusable and unacceptable and urged the federal government to arrest the situation and bring the perpetrators to book.

Comrade Mulade who decried the April 24, 2018 bloodbath in Benue state, leading to the killing of two Catholic Priests and 17 others by Fulani herdsmen when they stormed St Ignatius Catholic Church, Ukpor-Mbalom Parish, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, said the situation in the state was getting out of hand.

According to him, the present situation was gradually turning into religious and ethnic war, imploring the federal government to do everything possible to bring normalcy to the state.

“What is going on in Benue state and other parts of the country is unacceptable. President Muhammadu Buhari who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, must rise up and give Nigerians adequate protection from these Fulani herdsmen. We are tired of the killings in several parts of the country,” he said.

He also appealed to the international community not to remain silent, but wade into the massacre of innocent Benue citizens by Fulani herdsmen and Jihadists, saying there is growing tension in the state.

The activist consoled with the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi and families of those murdered by the Fulani herdsmen and prayed God to intervene and reinstate total peace to Benue state.